Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-25
HOW AMASA SNOW GOT ON
HIS FEET
From Harper's Weeklv-

From Hsrper's Weekly
Anasa Snow sat in his little law Office his feet
the top rim of his stove and his stove full OF
wood, and red hot. His ONCE about a rod
from his house. and quite near the high wooden
gate leading into the village street. over the
door one read, "PrOthonotary and Attorney-at-
law" twas huge, faded sign In black letters;
one could not go by Amasa SHOWS Office and not
know of the business OF It's occupant. The trouble
with the sign was II was not alluring enough.
Squire SlayJOn down the street, with a very Sun ALL
sign and over grocery store, and without a big
wide house, and Il family name and connection
Squire >layJOn somehow got all the business there
was going IN East Chesteryiue Amasa Snow
sat Tilted back in his wooden armchair pulling
his long chin beard, scratching the few gray hairs
In his sioping gray head, and trying TO con1ure
up some new scheme by which he could beat
SlAyton again, and defer the foreclosure sale He
had deferred it five times on one excuse and an
other; but Slayt0n had him this time there was no
help for IT, The old place would have to be sold
the old place where his boyhGod had been passed
until he went away 10 college, and where he hac
lived ever since, and seen his six girls grow up
about him. His six g1rISi He reached down and
broke splinter of bit OF pine wood by the stove
and began TO chew hard on IT. What would be-
come OF the girls? Every one beauty In his eyes;
every one worthy OF marrying the governor of the
state. How could be tell them that the sale of
their Old home could be postponed no longer; that
every device AMI trick, and every legal bubble,
had been tried and tried again? He dared not tell
the girls He looked out of the window; it was
raining. An April shower, to be sure, with pros
pect Of golden sunset later on, but making
everything outside under the trees look very
muddy and dismal Amasa Snow felt very much
depressed Fate appeared TO be against him.
What was 20 be done? He had borrowed from
every one IN the town. He could borrow no longer.
If the Old place were sold at twice It's value it
a N had a
his SIX mOtheTleSS girls hal never known how poor
he was ''Oh!" he groaned, as he rose and stood
get on my ieet?7
There were his law books-a couple OF thousand
dinSy calf volumes, no, Kept up to date, the in
heTitance from the judge, his father, but the
law books were 'ChIttt.ed.' as they said l. p
mortgaged quite beyond their value. Everything
he had in Itct. waS mOrtgaged- He had come this
wet April day TO the end OF things. Next week
came the sale. lie felt like Saying-the deluge
lie had not enough money to take him and his
family out West
That was his plan-to go West He hardly felt
his MY years. lie felt young and energetic when
h thought OF the West. By-Jhe-way, there was
his brother, ElSha-his brother who in his youth
was so Ike him He was West-in California. He
had not seen him for twenty years. The last he
had heard from him was a request To send On d
hundred dollars. That was ive years ago He
had sent him fifty, and nothing had been heard
rom Elisha since, except his name endorsed across
tne osck OF the oheck, showing that he had re-
ceiyed the money.
No. IL was clear that Elisha could never help
him Elisha had caused him to lose several
thousand dollars once in a mine. Eltsha's name
was always great bugbear IN his family since.
No, Elisha could not be expected to help him.
stay! An idea Amasa Snow began to poke the
but the fre hot enough in that little ONCE II
LEFT alone. An idea. Elisha should be made to
help him. 1t was last hope, but IL fired him with
enthusiasm. He reached up into dusty book
Case and got down lille OF letters He was look
ing for EiSha's address.
Just then there came tap at the ONCE door.
AmaSa turned around. '.By thunder" he cried
nearly carried OF his feet with establishment.
ITS EliSha-ia prOprt0 perSoIlGn'
Il have come home, said Elisha meekly, 81
have come home-tO neighbOr round"
And just in the nick OF time, Elisha Mighty
glad am 10 see you!'' Then thought occurred
To him, As he shook his brothers hand, with that
feeble wave in the air soc0mmOn In southern Con-
nectcuI, he would not tell Elisha of his financial
condition He might not help him If he did. No.
he would keep his own counsel
The two brothers sat down by the stove and
AmaSa threw another stick of soft pine wood on
the fire. It was frightfully hot. 'Seehere Elisha,
he said after pause Flows the Grand Amert-
can Eagle a-dOiI?"
''She isn't a-dOin."
'.NOJn1n' at all?"
''No; hasn't been for ten years.
III 'ttis a splendid mine once, Elisha. You used
TO say So"
go it was But we struck hard-pan-you re-
member about IL. What's the use OF rakfn' over
old personalities at this time, when ought 20 be
received with open arms, and bonfire lighted and
Hre-wOIkS touched Of?"
81 know, know, replied Amasa. apologeticaIly
y ought to ask how you have happened on East
feeling. It's natural"
well Elisha, have you got any ready money in
your pocket"
"a thousand dollars"
Amasa walked over 10 his old rusty safe
Better put the money in here?" he asked, cas-
nany Elisha handed him a roll OF bills. ''Dont
feel Ike payin' back any OF that two thousand?"
asked Amasa facetiously. referring TO the loan he
had made In the mining scheme.
No." said Elisha, IA don't" After a pause
while his brother locked the safe he said t.That
thousand IS the last cent I've got In the world
~ Lad Won TO 70
live with me-" said Amasa, rubbing his hands
The girls VIII be so happy TO you. Come, let's
he slipped an old, well-worn overcoat over his
shoulders without buttOning it. and they went
Out into the rain Elisha was very well dressed
Any one would have taken him for a weIl-to-lO
western bank president. He looked sleek and well
ied Ihere wasn't trace OF anxiety about his
alike.
As they were crossing the threshold of the house.
AmaSa whispered, Just tell the girls you're q
millionaire; Tor a Joke, you know"
Elisha winked- Yes" he said. ''for 1Oke-w1sh
was, though" and they entered the parlOr There
were the six girls; six goOd-loOking hearty frank
healthy country girls They all rose and gave a
verltab!e shout Of welcome. They usually gave a
united shout whenever anything pleased them
They fairly screamed when Elisha opened the
door, They flew at him. They kissed him. They
TOOK his hat for him; they took away his overcOat
ami umbrella Aud h0,c they We're Impressed
when their father said. proudly, And then 10
thlnk that your uncle has returned to million
air.. :"
~ MISUNDERSTANDING horused the girls
Elisha Uegan 10 feel his old bOaStful spirit for
which he had long been noted coming over him
again Why, he said, 'out in California we don't
reckon a million much money. All my friends are
worth over u million My hve million dollars don't
count very much out there
Elisha says he Is going TO build public library
DuiinS Tor East C1esterytlle, put Ii AIndsa with
out a .rlILdce-
"a public library :" chorused the girls.
ne sayo ne don't mind paying on the debt on
the church either" added their preyaricator of a
father
Elbow perfectly splendid
'.NO one would have thought the Grand Amer.
lean Spread-easie Mine would have panned out 50
well, said AInaSa.
b. this Time ths six girls were dancing around
The room IA their eXcitemeE,,. They had never
been 20 excited since John MawIey, the son OF
AdWiey the mill-owner at the other end or the
village, had become engaged TO Bessie Snow, their
eldest slSter-Sald Mawley having concluded on
Tn consent and advice OF his father, TO break on
SID engagement, after knowledge OF Lawyer
snow rs nnaEctai condition came out and became
common gossip.
Elisha says the sunday school shall have new
organ II IL takes his last cent" said their father
laughing heartily. He could not hold himself
IL.
Well said Elisha, '.not quite as bad as that
Bli tAey shall have . new melOdeOn-yes"
his capped The climax. The sunday school haC
been hOi1iIis picnlcs, strawberry festivals ice
cream Festivals. lectures busy-Dees, and / don't
Know what b'sideS-ln which the six Girls haC
taken lively tEterest-to raise money enough fo
AZ organ; but, do their best they could raise onl,
their uncle, and as there was not quits. enough q
N rha4N